HISTORY TIP OF THE DAY

Aaron Burr is arrested, February 19th, 1807

After finishing his term as vice president, Burr left politics and became embroiled in one of the most curious episodes of early American history. It appears Burr went west to try to create his own independent nation. He began traveling up and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, negotiating to sell parts of the Louisiana Purchase to England for half a million dollars. Alerted to this plot, President Jefferson informed Congress and ordered Burr’s arrest. He is discovered and taken into custody in the Mississippi Territory. Months earlier, he had been vice president; now he was arrested for treason.